When you renovate a 1980s contemporary house with Florida-style stucco, you want a clean and light outside entertainment area to complete, and complement, the retrofit. This deck also serves as a transition area between the house and the patio. It's got a granite-top wet bar and an outdoor TV sheltered under a separate roof, and plenty of planters filled with tropical plants to replicate the lush Florida lifestyle.

The overhead pergola, which sits on four large columns, not only shades a significant portion of the deck, but it also provides a needed feeling of enclosure. The columns also serve to camouflage wiring conduits for the sound system and lighting.